Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) Hits New 12-Month Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Rivian shares fell to a new 52-week low of $11.38, trading well below their 50-day and 200-day moving averages amid ongoing investor concerns.
• The company reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with rising software revenue, growing R2 deliveries and an improved 2026 outlook; the R2 also became Rivian’s best-selling vehicle.
• Despite these positive developments, Rivian remains unprofitable and cash-burning, while uncertainty surrounds the monetization of its Volkswagen partnership. Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $19.86.

Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday. The stock traded as low as $11.38 and last traded at $11.4630, with a volume of 30,123,549 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.67.

Key Rivian Automotive News

Here are the key news stories impacting Rivian Automotive this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Rivian beat Wall Street’s third-quarter earnings expectations as software revenue increased and R2 deliveries ramped. Management also improved its 2026 outlook for vehicle deliveries, adjusted pre-tax earnings and capital expenditures. Rivian third-quarter earnings beat estimates as software revenue, R2 deliveries rise
• Positive Sentiment: The R2 was Rivian’s best-selling vehicle during the quarter, an encouraging early signal for the company’s lower-priced SUV and its strategy to reach a broader market. The R2 SUV is already Rivian's best-selling vehicle
• Positive Sentiment: Rivian and Volkswagen are expanding their $5.8 billion joint venture to include AI assistants, potentially broadening future software licensing and technology revenue opportunities. Rivian also acquired Third Dimension AI to strengthen driver-assistance capabilities for its Autonomy+ services, although the purchase price was not disclosed. Rivian expands joint venture with VW to include AI assistant Rivian Just Made a Move That Could Help Unlock $950 Million and More
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports that a Walmart-branded Rivian delivery van was seen on a car carrier have revived speculation about a potential fleet relationship, but no commercial order has been confirmed. RIVN Stock Rebounds As Unconfirmed Walmart Delivery Van Sparks Fleet Hopes
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Rivian’s automotive business has not yet reached profitability. Prior results showed negative automotive gross profit, while the company continues to face significant cash-burn and execution risk as it scales the R2. Rivian Bets on R2 Margins as Volkswagen’s $1 Billion Loan Buys Time
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that Volkswagen may use Xpeng software for some European EVs raise doubts about Rivian’s ability to monetize its Volkswagen partnership. Rising autonomy research spending also increases the need for future software revenue to justify the investment. Volkswagen Software Doubts Might Change The Case For Investing In Rivian Automotive

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on RIVN shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Rivian Automotive from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Rivian Automotive in a research report on Monday, August 10th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Rivian Automotive from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Rivian Automotive from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler raised shares of Rivian Automotive from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $18.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $19.86.

Rivian Automotive Stock Down 1.9%

The company has a market capitalization of $16.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.44 and a beta of 1.62. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $14.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.57. The company has a current ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87.

Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The electric vehicle automaker reported ($0.63) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.66) by $0.03. Rivian Automotive had a negative return on equity of 73.90% and a negative net margin of 54.96%. The firm had revenue of $1.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.52 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.97) earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 27.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Rivian Automotive, Inc. will post -2.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Rivian Automotive

In other Rivian Automotive news, CFO Claire McDonough sold 8,023 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.00, for a total value of $128,368.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 819,178 shares of the company's stock, valued at $13,106,848. This represents a 0.97% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Michael John Callahan sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.00, for a total transaction of $225,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 1,001,776 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $15,026,640. The trade was a 1.48% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 51,167 shares of company stock valued at $788,306. 1.48% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rivian Automotive

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of RIVN. Traynor Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Rivian Automotive by 30.8% during the third quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 17,646 shares of the electric vehicle automaker's stock valued at $264,000 after buying an additional 4,160 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Rivian Automotive by 22.1% in the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,970,637 shares of the electric vehicle automaker's stock valued at $29,441,000 after acquiring an additional 356,540 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Rivian Automotive during the 3rd quarter valued at $327,000. Vise Technologies Inc. bought a new position in Rivian Automotive during the third quarter valued at about $156,000. Finally, Partners Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Rivian Automotive in the third quarter valued at about $297,000. Institutional investors own 66.25% of the company's stock.

About Rivian Automotive

Rivian Automotive, Inc is an electric vehicle manufacturer that designs, develops and produces all-electric trucks, sport utility vehicles and commercial delivery vans. The company focuses on vehicles intended for outdoor recreation, everyday transportation and fleet use, combining battery-electric powertrains with software and connected-vehicle technologies.

Rivian's consumer vehicle lineup includes the R1T pickup truck and R1S sport utility vehicle. The company also develops electric commercial vans for business and delivery fleets, including vehicles produced through its relationship with Amazon.

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